Estimating Your Electric Bill- 4 Ways To Do It

The winter season comes with its fair share of additional electric costs as we have to spend a little more to keep our homes warm. Since most of the time is spent indoors, other costs such as those involving lighting Christmas lights are likely to emerge meaning that we have to dig deeper into our pockets. But do you have to go through this ordeal every winter season? Here are some simple tips to help you minimize on electricity consumption when the cold season arrives. With this kind of information, you should be able to find ways to save money on your monthly energy bills.

1.Learn to read your meter accurately

It is always ideal to know your meter so that you can start keeping track of your readings. Without knowing how the final reading is obtained by your power company, it might be difficult to know just how to control consumption. If you live in an apartment, talk to your landlord or electrician and request them to help you identify your meter.

2.Take the readings and compare

Track the rate of consumption on your meter and compare this with the previous month’s reading as provided by your sugar land electricity company. You can take the previous reading and deduct it from your current reading to see just how much you spent this month. With this figures, it will be much easier to plan in advance even before the monthly bill is sent to you.

3.How much does your electricity company charge?

Your monthly bill is normally computed by multiplying the amount of units consumed by rate per kilowatt. You can check the rate per kilowatt hour from your previous bill and multiply it with the units obtained in tip 2 above. For instance, if you were charged 10 cents per kilowatt hour and you had consumed 1500 units then your total electricity bill for the month will amount to about $150. Other applicable taxes and charges are usually included in the final figure.

4.Be mindful of applicable taxes

Most electric bills tend to be subjected to current tax laws depending on your state. Such taxes or fees always appear on your monthly bill therefore you should always keep record of any taxes that may be charged in your state. So any increase in new or existing taxes is added to your electric bill. The taxes usually come as a percentage and it is upon you to figure out the amount of taxes charged to each monthly bill. For example, if your region has a 5% tax on electricity, you would be expected to pay around 10 dollars in taxes using the previous example of the $200 bill.

Bottom line

In conclusion, comparing your electric bill is essential as it helps you figure out how much electricity your appliances use. This enables you to look for more efficient ways to heat your home by either upgrading or getting rid of those appliances responsible for high electric bills. It also helps you in budgeting especially if you have little to save after paying all the bills. In addition, this method prevents you from surprises once the bill comes due.